Abstract
Apparatuses that are designed for physic lab experiments for Laurel Tree Charter School's high school students which are to aid in the understanding of Newtonian Physics. This project is designed by GREENtree, four students consisting of Christopher Alston, Andre Bernal, Julian Quick, and Jesse Zipursky, in The Humboldt State University Environmental Resource Engineering program,Engineering 215 design class. The project is funded by Laurel Tree Charter School and targets high school students by educating them on the fundamentals of Newton's Laws of Motion with the use of this designed equipment.
Background
The Laurel Tree Charter School (LTCS) is a institution, designed by the teachers geared to educate their students for college curriculum by emphasizing sustainability in our environment and coexistence in our mixed diverse society. Located in Arcata, California, grades K through 12 are taught by the teachers that run the whole school's operation. Becca Schular, the physical science teacher for grades 9 through 12 and the client, desired specific physics demonstrations for her class curriculum and thus these apparatuses were created. The apparatuses will be implemented in the classroom during lab activities in order to help the students understand in a fun way the fundamentals of Newtonian Physics.
Objective Statement and Criteria
Objective Statement
The objective of this project is to create fun, surprising apparatuses for all ages that demonstrate Newton’s Laws of motion for the Laurel Tree Charter School in Arcata, California. This project was given the following criteria by Laurel Tree Charter School.
Criteria
- Durability: Measures the lifespan ofthe apparatus and how easily the parts are replaceable.
- Mysteriousness: The level that students will be able to see Newton’s laws of motion in a
surprising way and understood can be obtained.
- Educational Value: A value that measures the teaching of Newton’s fundamentals laws of
motion with observation and experimentation.
- Measurability: A gauge of how many variables in the apparatus can be measured and
analyzed.
- Accuracy and Precision: A quantitative value that correlates to each apparatus matching
the theoretical values with a small deviation of error.
- Inexpensive: A numerical value representing the cost of the production of the apparatus or
its low cost in upkeep.
- Sustainability: The measure of eco-friendly, low environmental impact, and low
embedded energy in the material of the apparatus.
- Storability: The volume at which the experiment will occupy with, minimum volume
when stored away in a closet.
- Safety: A level that is in accordance with the schools code of safety regulations and meets
instructor’s approval when in use.
Description of final project
- Sample gallery
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The Loop de Loop Rollercoaster
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sample stuff
The three apparatuses
To demonstrate Newton's three laws of motion, GREENtree built three separate apparatuses, one for each of Newton's Laws.
Loop de Loop Rollercoaster The Loop de Loop Rollercoaster apparatus demonstrates a practical application of Newton's second law of motion, as well as concepts of centripetal acceleration and conservation of energy. The apparatus consists of three parts: the base which supports the track, a foam track shaped into a loop, and a set of marbles with different masses. The loop has an adjustable radius. Students first measure the radius of the loop, and then use that to calculate the initial height the marble has to start to make it over the loop. While finding the initial height that the marble has to start at, students will find that the mass of the marble does not effecct the initial height, and will be able to confirm this by testing the initial height with marbles of different masses.
Balloon Rocket The Balloon Rocket is an apparatus that demonstrates Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Conceptually this is represented as the air acting on the balloon and the balloon reacting equally to the air. It consists of three separate parts, the two poles, the track, and the balloon. Average velocity is calculated when the balloon travels across the track.
It works by having air blown into a balloon that is taped to a straw on one side of the track. Then the balloon is launched by letting go of the end of the balloon which send it across the track to the other side. Simultaneously as the balloon is traveling, someone records the time it takes for it to stop at the other end. When the experiment is over the average velocity is found by using the equation Velocity = Distance/Time.
Costs
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| row 1, cell 1 | row 1, cell 2 | row 1, cell 3 |
| row 2, cell 1 | row 2, cell 2 | row 2, cell 3 |
See Help:Tables and Help:Table examples for more.
Testing Results
How to Build
Balloon Rocket
1. Cut a 1 1/4 in. diameter PVC pipe into two 4ft. long pipes or have them precut at the store.
2. Mix the concrete in the two buckets till the buckets are 2/3 to 3/4 full. Use the instructions on the bag for optimal results.
3. Place one of the PVC pipes into each of the concrete filled buckets. Tie the pipes to something above the buckets, for example a tree branch or fan if done indoors, to hold the pipes vertically at 90 degrees until the concrete hardens. Use an alternative method to hold the pipes in place if the above recommendation cannot be performed.
4. Wait 1-2 days for the concrete to fully cure.
5. Drill a hole into both of the PVC plugs and then attach to the connectors. Then put two washers onto the eye hook and attach to the plugs and put two more washers onto the hook after putting the hook through the hole. Tighten the bolt given with the hooks and attach both connectors to the poles.
6. Put a straw onto the a piece of string with a random length and attach both ends of that string to the hooks on each pole.
Loop de Loop Roller Coaster
1. Obtain all the materials needed to complete this project. Cut the base and platform plywood to specifications, 30" by 12". Cut PVC pipes into 6 segments and to the appropriate lengths with careful calculations. Miter or cut the Ceder garden stakes with 45 degree angles to fit around the border of the base plywood, sand down the edges so each corner is flush with one another.
2. Using wood glue and nails, secure the Ceder segments tot he base plywood to form a rectangular border. Make careful calculations to where each support pipe will be placed for each segment on the platform plywood. Using a drill press, drill holes into the platform to fit the PVC pipes into. Tape and align the platform to the Ceder and base portion.
3. Making calculations, cut specific angles into each PVC pipe to help the support of the foam track, sand down each segment to remove burrs and rough edges. Using the E6000 adhesive, apply adhesive to the bottom of each STATIONARY support pipes and place each pipe into their appropriate spots thus adhering them to the base plywood through the platform plywood. Remove platform from the base after 1 hr of curing time. Cut another piece of Ceder to fit along the sides of the stationary pipes. Using wood glue, glue that piece to the side of the pipes for added support. Apply more adhesive to the base and sides of each pole to secure each pole into their official spots.
Discussion and Next Steps
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References
Contact details
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